Vol.20 No.4

Case Report

Development of various arrhythmias and conduction disturbances following corticosteroid therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus with antiphospholipid syndrome

Authors

Yu Kasamatsu1 , Katsunobu Yoshioka1 , Tomoko Miyashita1 , Mikiko Shibata1 , Tomoyuki Nakamura1 , Keiko Yamagami1

  • Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City General Hospital, Osaka, 2-3-22 Miyakojima-hondori, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka 534-0021, Japan
Received:

21 December 2009

Accepted:

5 February 2010

Published online:

13 March 2010

Full Text

PDF　(member's only)

Abstract

A 45-year-old Chinese woman with active systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus anticoagulant positive, was admitted to our hospital. Electrocardiography on admission was normal. Though anti-Sjögren’s syndrome A (anti SS-A/Ro) antibodies were negative and ultrasound cardiographic findings were normal, she developed various arrhythmias/conduction disturbances shortly after starting corticosteroid. Nearly all were resolved with continuous corticosteroid and aspirin therapy before discharge. Vasculitis, the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, and platelet aggregation due to corticosteroid were possible mechanisms underlying the arrhythmias/conduction disturbances.

Key words

Systemic lupus erythematosus - Heart block - Lupus anticoagulant - Antiphospholipid syndrome - Corticosteroid therapy